County hears offer for mass alert system

Phelps County officials heard an offer Tuesday from a company that offers a mass notification system that not only would benefit the county courthouse, but all county residents.

Paul Hackbarth

Phelps County officials heard an offer Tuesday from a company that offers a mass notification system that not only would benefit the county courthouse, but all county residents.

Ever since a bomb scare was called into Phelps County Regional Medical Center (PCRMC) last month, county officials have been looking to their own security at the courthouse and reviewing their emergency preparedness plans.

During Tuesday's commission meeting, all three commissioners, along with Mike Kirn, Chris Steen and Matt Shults, all sheriff's department personnel, County Emergency Management Director Sandy North and County Clerk Carol Bennett watched an online demonstration of a mass notification system by Everbridge.

Corey Baker, of Everbridge, told Phelps County officials that the company could offer the county an unlimited use system for an annual cost of $14,950 based on the county's population of potential users.

The $14,950 amount includes $13,000 for the unlimited system and just less than $2,000 for weather alerts.

District One Commissioner Larry Stratman said that cost breaks down to about 33 cents per county resident per year.

There is also a one-time setup fee, which amounts to 8 percent of the annual cost.

Phelps County residents could sign up for the service to receive alerts from weather notifications to bomb scares to water boil orders.

It was noted that municipalities, school districts and hospitals could be included in the system for no additional cost. Bennett said she would like to talk with PCRMC and other districts within the county to see if they would be interested in such a system.

Audrain, Boone, Osage, Gasconade, Montgomery and Callaway counties in Missouri along with the cities of Branson and Wentzville as well as Missouri University of Science and Technology use products from Everbridge. The company has a total of about 1,500 customers in the U.S.